posted 04-18-201102:48 AM
I got my cup a week or so ago and just started my period, so this is basically my guinea-pig cycle...to figure out my issues and see what I can do about them.

I ended up shortening the stem a little since it was somewhat uncomfortable, and it's better now, but my problem is...I've tried every way I can think of to file it down a little, but it takes a minute of moving around for the cup to work its way into where it normally sits, and until then the stem is far enough down to poke the sensitive tissue inside the vagina, and it's very uncomfortable-feels like it's scraping. I would cut off the entire stem, and to be honest maybe in a while I will, but I'm still getting used to this so I'd rather have the stem. I was thinking of one way to make the end somewhat less pointy-use a lighter to melt the end of the stem, just slightly, so that it's smoother and has no real edge to feel like it's scraping.Can anyone think of problems with this idea? I've got a small ladycup, by the way.

Also, apparently the cup sits high enough that my cervix is inside it-quite a bit inside it, actually, which makes it a little difficult to remove. If I try to break the seal from the area that's easiest to get to, I have to squish the cup aside to do so, and I manage to squish the cervix and then (I'm guessing because of the suction?) the dimpled area is actually inside the cup, so I'm poking behind that which is hugely uncomfortable. Does anyone know how to fix that? Or is it just that some people have that issue and I have to figure out a way around it?

This being said, so far I really like this thing. I'm not cramping, which is awesome...normally I'd have been in the fetal position on the bed at least once by now. And I've actually figured out how to remove it without hurting, except that I figured that out during a practice run right before I started and I didn't leave it in long enough to find out that it sits high enough for poking to be painful.
Posts: 183 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-18-201109:40 AM
I probably wouldn't suggest trying to melt the ends of the stem, as you might damage the cup overall doing that. When you heat up stuff like that, sometimes it does bad things to the integrity of the material (sometimes on a molecular level). I'd definitely call customer service for the company that produces that particular cup and ask about it before trying to melt anything.

Instead of melting, I'd try filing it, if anything. On my Keeper, I think I used a medium grade nail file to smooth down the edges after I cut the stem off. I was careful to file it slowly and away from the edge. Then I used a fine grain nail file to smooth it down a bit further.

Per the problems with removing it, it sounds like you might be squishing it too much right away if you're feeling like your cervix is getting pinched. Cups sit differently for everybody (because bodies are shaped differently). I've never had mine sit up quite that high, so I don't know exactly what you're experiencing. But I'd try pinching just enough to break the suction and pulling it down a bit to move it away from your cervix. Then fold it down further for removal (if that's what you need to make it comfortable). You also might try bearing down just slightly when you squish the cup...let your muscles help you break the seal.

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